- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 September 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 20 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review its contractual arrangements with Premier Prison Service with regard to the running of HM Prison Kilmarnock in light of HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland's Report for 2000-01.
Answer
The Executive sees no need to do so.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom McCabe on 6 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3640 by Mr Tom McCabe on 28 June 2001, on what date it last discussed the operation of the Scotland Act 1998 with Her Majesty's Government.
Answer
The Scottish Executive has regular discussions with the UK Government about a wide range of matters, including the operation of the Scotland Act 1998. In accordance with the principles underpinning the Memorandum of Understanding, such discussions are normally conducted on a confidential basis.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 16 August 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 4 September 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the figures of (a) #35 and (b) #63, as originally set by the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 and revised by the Diligence Against Earnings (Variation) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 as the level of net weekly earnings below which no reduction in respect of earnings arrestments may be made, would be currently if they had been updated in line with (i) average earnings and (ii) prices.
Answer
The threshold below which all earnings are exempt from arrestment is set in relation to benefits. The level of £35 per week initially set out in the Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987 was approximately half way between the short-term supplementary benefit rate for a single person and that for a couple. The 1995 recalculation on the same basis used income support rates, which took the place of supplementary benefits. At current rates of income support the threshold would be £70 per week. The level of the 1987 and 1995 thresholds if they had been based on (i) average earnings and (ii) prices would be as shown in the following table. The Executive has revised the thresholds as part of its on-going diligence review and intends to propose revisions in due course.
| Average Earnings Index1 | Retail Price Index2 |
£35 | £71.09 | £58.49 |
£63 | £78.31 | £71.96 |
Source of indices: Office for National Statistics.Notes:1. Not seasonally adjusted.2. All items.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 26 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Allan Wilson on 24 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether pigeon racing will be classed as a sport and, if so, when.
Answer
sportscotland has no plans to seek agreement with the other UK sports councils on recognising pigeon racing as a sport. Decisions on the recognition of sports are a matter for the Sports Councils in the UK acting unanimously.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff are currently employed at the health centre at HM Prison Kilmarnock, how long each staff member has been in post and what the job title is of each staff member.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16640.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive how many grievances have been lodged against the management of the health centre at HM Prison Kilmarnock since it opened, what the nature of each grievance has been and what the outcome was in each case.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16640.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate current practices for medical supervision of registered mental health nurses at HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-16644
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether the health centre in HM Prison Kilmarnock has been the subject of an investigation by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and, if so, what the current status is of any such investigation.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:There has been no such investigation.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive what the current procedures are at HM Prison Kilmarnock for referrals of those involved in attempted suicides or self-harming and, in particular, whether such cases are automatically referred to the mental health nurse at the prison.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:All cases of attempted suicide or self-harm are referred to a multi-disciplinary team which includes healthcare staff. These teams may or may not include a mental health nurse.
- Asked by: Alex Neil, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish National Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 27 June 2001
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Wallace on 13 August 2001
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the current procedures for medical supervision at the health centre at HM Prison Kilmarnock.
Answer
I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) sees no need to do so. In his report following an inspection of the prison in March of this year, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons commented: "The medical arrangements at Kilmarnock are being maintained at a high level and we have no major concerns."